Self-purging multi-contact electrical connector

ABSTRACT

A self-purging, multi-contact electrical connector for use in a hostile fluid environment which includes a pair of connector housings each of which is connected to an electrical wire and each of which defines a chamber, mechanical means for releasably interconnecting the housings, an elastomeric body sealingly carried in each of the housing chambers and each of the bodies having exposed, aligned, convex surfaces, and each of the bodies carrying at least one electrically conducting contact member exposed at the convex surface and electrically connected to the wires, so that progressive engagement of the elastomeric bodies through the interconnecting means purges hostile fluid environment from the housings engaging the contact members in pressure contact.

United States Falkner Patent SELF-PURGING MULTI-CONTACT- ELECTRICALCONNECTOR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 826,158 3/1930 Great Britain..339/8 P Primary Examiner-Ian A. Calvert Assistant Examiner-Joseph H.McGlynn Attorney--Miketta, Glenny, Poms & Smith [5 7] ABSTRACT Aself-purging, multi-contact electrical connector for use in a hostilefluid environment which includes a pair of connector housings each ofwhich is connected to an electrical wire and each of which defines achamber, mechanical means for releasably interconnecting the housings,an elastomeric body sealingly carried in each of the housing chambersand each of the bodies having exposed, aligned, convex surfaces, andeach of the bodies carrying at least one electrically conducting contactmember exposed at the convex surface and electrically connected to thewires, so that progressive engagement of the elastomeric bodies throughthe interconnecting means purges hostile fluid environment from thehousings engaging the contact members in pressure contact.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented April 18, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet IA)VE/V 7-0/2 v C HEsrEeB IZF'L/(NE/Q SELF-PURGING MULTI-CONTACT ELECTRICALCONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directedto an electrical connector which can be used and made up in a hostileenvironment. While the exemplary embodiments described herein werederived in connection with the provision of a sub-sea electricalconnector, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that aconnector of the present type may be used in any hostile fluidenvironment such as outer space, a nuclear irradiated atmosphere, or thelike.

The problem involved in effecting a good electrical connection betweentwo cable or wire terminating devices in a fluid environment is theprevention of the entrapment of such environment between the electricalcontact members or elements or within a closed housing or pair ofhousings that define the terminator connection.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-contactelectrical connector which self-purges the hostile environmentprevailing during connection between the two members comprising theconnector. It is also an object to provide a multi-contact connectorwhich need not be rotationally oriented to effect the connection such asby the provision of concentric, annular, radially-spaced contactmembers, The integrity of the electrical connection is also assured bythe provision of line pressure contact between the annular elements soas to overcome any oxide film on the contacts which may exist prior toconnection and also to prevent contaminants from being entrapped betweentwo of the contact members or elements. It is also an object to provideelastomeric bodies for carrying the contact members which provideelectrical insulation between the contact members and the wiresconnected thereto and which will not allow foreign material, such asparticles of sand, to prevent proper interfacial contact between thebodies. It is also an object to provide a connector which hasconsiderable tensile strength so that the electric cable in which suchconnector is used may also be used for tensile loading.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A self-purging, multi-contact electricalconnector for use in a hostile fluid environment comprising, a pair ofconnector housings each connected to an electrical wire and defining achamber, means for releasably interconnecting the housings, anelastomeric body sealingly carried in each of the housing chambers, eachof the elastomeric bodies having exposed alignment convex surfaces, andeach of the elastomeric bodies carrying at least one electricallyconducting contact member exposed at the convex surface thereof andelectrically connected to the wires, so that progressive engagement ofthe elastomeric bodies purges the hostile fluid environment from theconnector and engages the electrical contact members in pressurecontact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of anexemplary self-purging, multi-contact electrical connector, shown in thepre-connected condition, constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional view of a portion of the connector ofFIG. 1 shown in the fully assembled or connected position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane lll-III OF FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a second exemplary embodiment of a self-purging, multi-contactelectrical connector constructed in accordance with the presentinvention including modified means for interconnecting the connectorhousings as well as other modificatrons;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the plane VI--VI of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the plane VII-VII of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS.1 through 3, there is shown a first exemplary embodiment of aself-purging, multi-contact electrical connector for use in a hostileenvironment constructed in accordance with the present invention. Suchexemplary embodiment generally comprises a pair of connector housings,indicated generally at 20, 21; means 40 for releasably interconnectingthe housings; elastomeric bodies carried by each of the housings,indicated generally at 50, 51; and electrically conducting contactmembers or elements, indicated generally at 60, 61.

The housings 20, 21 of the first exemplary embodiment are generallycylindrical in configuration and define chambers 22, 23, and axialcylindrical openings 24, 25, respectively. The chambers 22, 23 aredefined by cylindrical walls 26, 27. The housings 20, 21 are connectedto wires 28, 29 which are disposedwithin axial cylindrical openings 24,25 in the hous ings. The wires 28, 29 are in fluid tight connection withtheir respective housings through the provision of threaded end nuts 30,31 which coact with wedge members 32, 33 so as to radially clamp thewire passing therethrough to form a fluidtight connection in a mannerknown in the art.

Each of the wires 28, 29 have a plurality of conductors disposed thereineach of which is electrically insulated from one another in the ordinarymanner. The sheath portion of the wires 28, 29 terminates within thechambers 22, 23 and the individual conductors, which may be withoutinsulating material, project axially therefrom, such as conductors 34,35 exemplarily shown in FIG. 1 for wires 28, 29, respectively. Thehousing chambers are partially filled with a solid insulating material,indicated generally at 36, such as an epoxy resin, in which theconductor wires are embedded.

The means 40 for releasably interconnecting the housings 20, 21 in theexemplary embodiment comprise threaded portion 41 on housing wall 26 anda shoulder 42 on housing wall 27. Such means also includes a threadedcollar or clamping nut 43 also having a shoulder 44, the nut beingmounted on housing 21 and having an internally threaded portion 45 sothat when threaded on portion 41 of housing 20 the nut will axially movethe housings 20, 21 together to effect the connection. The nut 43 isprovided with means 46 for permitting the escape of the hostile fluidenvironment from the chambers 22, 23 of the housings 20, 21 when thehousings are joined through interconnecting means 40, and in theexemplary embodiment such escape means comprises holes 47, 48. It willof course be understood, that various means for releasablyinterconnecting the housings may be provided, such as pring operatedlatching means, hydraulic pressure operated latching means, pins andcomplementary J-slots, or the like.

The self-purging multi-contact electrical connector also includeselastomeric bodies 50, 51 disposed in the chambers 22, 23 of housings20, 21, respectively. Such elastomeric material may be, for example,Buna-N rubber. The cylindrical and end surfaces of the elastomericbodies 50, 51 are in sealing engagement with the walls 26, 27 of thehousings 20, 21 and the epoxy material 36, respectively. Each of theelastomeric bodies has an exposed generally aligned convex surfaceindicated generally at 52, 53, respectively. The term convex is usedherein to describe a surface having a center portion which is axiallyforward or displace from the adjacent radial annular area such as aconical, spherical, or similar shape.

The elastomeric bodies 50, 51 are arranged so that the central portionof the exposed surfaces 52, 53 are axially forward of the ends 54, 55 ofthe housing walls 26, 27, respectively, and the annular, radiallyoutward portion of the exposed surfaces are axially rearward of the ends54, 55 of the walls. The volume of the space defined by a transverseplane engaging the wall edges, the sloping annular surface of theelastomeric body and the inner surface of the cylindrical walls of thehousing is less than the volume of the central portion of theelastomeric body which is forward of such transverse plane. It

will thus be seen that when the ends 54, 55 are in engaging contactthrough the tightening of the clamping nut 43 which draws the housingstogether, as seen in FIG. 2, the elastomeric bodies have a volumegreater than the chamber defined by the housing walls and the epoxymaterial 36. Consequently, the elastomeric body is deformed or incompressive load so that there is pressure contact between the exposedsurfaces 53, 52 of the bodies.

The first exemplary embodiment of the electrical connector also includeselectrical conducting members or elements 60, 61 which are carried bythe elastomeric bodies 50, 51, respectively. At least a portion of theseconnecting members are exposed so as to define contact surfaces whichare in pressure engagement, due to the deformation of the elastomericbodies, when the housings are tightly connected. In the concentricelectrical conductor elements 62, 63, and 64 in 1 elastomeric bodies 50and 65, 66 and 67 in elastomeric body 51. Each of the annular contactelements is electrically insulated from the adjacent element by theinterposed elastomeric material of the bodies 50, 51. Each of theannular contact elements is also electrically connected through leads,such as leads 68, 69, to the annular contact elements 64, 67,respectively.

In the preferred embodiment, the contact elements 65, 66, and 67 haveplanar faces and the contact elements 62, 63, and 64 have annularlyconvex faces so that upon pressure engagement there is line contactbetween the complemental elements. In this manner, the deposition ofoxide films or the like, from the hostile fluid environment, will notprevent proper electrical metal-to-metal contact between the contactmembers. Also, foreign particles or contaminants which may be present inthe environment in which the housings are connected will not be trappedbetween the contact surfaces as they approach one another during theconnection. Moreover, any contaminant particle, such as a grain of sand,will not prevent proper electrical'contact since such particle willreadily embed in the relatively soft elastomeric material between themetallic contact elements when forced from between such elements.

In operation, assume that the wires and the connector housings aredisposed or submerged in a hostile fluid environment which is desirablypurged from between the electrical contact elements in order to effect agood electrical connection. The housings are brought adjacent oneanother so that the clamping nut 43 may be threaded on the threadedportion 41 of the housing 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the clamping nut hasbeen threaded an amount so as to bring the central portions of theelastomeric bodies 50, 51 into contact. Further threading of theclamping nut 43 will be seen to axially move the housings 20, 21 towardone another initially causing deformation of the central portion of theelastomeric bodies and forcing the environment radially outwardly.Progressive axial engagement will first bring contact elements 62 and 65into operative engagement. The radially outwardly disposed annularcontact elements are then progressively brought into engagement whilethe environment is being forced outwardly between the ends 54, 55 of thehousing walls 26, 27 and through the openings or holes 47, 48 in theclamping nut 43. It will be seen that immediately preceding abutment ofthe ends 54, 55 there will be surplus of elastomeric material so thatprior to and immediately preceding contact between the wall ends theentire space between the exposed surfaces 53, 54 of the elastomericbodies is evacuated of the environment. The completely assembledconnector is shown in FIG. 2 where it will be seen that the electricalcontact elements are in pressure engagement due to the deformation ofthe elastomeric bodies and all of the environment has been purged.Moreover, since the elastomeric material is under compressive load, thepressure within the housings is normally greater than the ambientpressure thereby preventing entry of the fluid environment into theconnected housings.

The above-described first exemplary embodiment provides an electricalconnector useful in numerous applications which, by way of example, maybe a combination towing and electrical cable, a cable or line mooring aninstrumented buoy in the ocean, or the like. The second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention is more specifically directed to anelectrical connector which may be used to connect an electric powercable to a down-hole submersible pump in oil or water producing wells,or connect an electric power and control cable to a sub-sea blowoutpreventer assembly or a wellhead used in oil well production. Suchsecond exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector is shown in FIGS.4 through 7, to which attention is now directed.

In FIG. 4, there is shown an electrical connector constructed inaccordance with the present invention in conjunction with a sub-seaapparatus having a body, a portion of which is shown at 70. The bodyincludes a cavity 71 into which an electrical wire 72 projects forexternal connector to a power wire or cable 73.

The connector includes a housing comprising a base portion 81 having aflanged portion 82 secured to a cylindrical wall portion 83 through aplurality of fasteners 84. The base portion 81 and cylindrical wallportion 83 of the housing 80 is secured to the body 70 of the sub-seaapparatus through an annular retainer member 85 bearing against theflange portion 82 of base portion 81 and retaining the housing 80 to thebody 70 through a plurality of bolts 86. The chamber defined by thehousing is partially filled with solid epoxy material 87. The wire 72 issecured to the housing 80 through suitable end clamp members indicatedgenerally at 88.

A second housing member is provided including a cylindrical wall portion91 secured to a base portion 92 through a plurality of fasteners 93.Base portion 92 is generally cylindrically elongated and includes athreaded portion 94. Base portion 92 has an axial cylindrical openingfor receiving cable 73 suitably secured therein through clamping membersindicated generally at 95. The end ofthe cable 73 terminates in pottedepoxy resin indicated at 96. Suitable sealing members are pro vided foreffecting a water-tight engagement of housing base member 92 andcylindrical wall portion 91.

Means is provided for axially interconnecting the housings 80, 90 whichincludes the threaded portion 94 of the base portion 92 of housing 90and a generally cylindrical collar having internal threaded means 101engaging the external threads 94 on the housing portion 92. Collar 100has a reduced diameter portion 102. Such means also includes a wall 103laterally spaced from the body 70 and having a U- shaped opening 104 forreceiving the reduced diameter portion 102 of collar 100 and restrainingthe collar against axial movement. The U-shaped opening 104 is in axialalignment with the cavity 71 in the body 70 of the apparatus and thewall 103 is supported by a pair of arms 105, 106 in its laterally spacedposition.

It will now be seen that with the housing 80 secured to the body 70 ofthe apparatus, the housing 90 to which is attached the power cable 73may be positioned and supported by the wall 103 so that the housings arein general axial alignment. Rotation of the collar 100, which isrestrained against axial movement, will produce axial forward movementof housing 90 so as to bring the two housing members into engagement.

Elastomeric bodies 110, 111 are disposed in the cylindrical portions 83,91 of housings 80, 90, respectively. The elastomeric bodies are in mostrespects similar to those previously described having exposed convexsurfaces 112, 113. It will be noted that the exposed convex surface 112of elastomeric body has its outermost annular portion at the end ofcylindrical wall 83 so that the entire exposed surface is forward of theend of the cylindrical wall 83. The exposed surface 113 of theelastomeric body 111, on the other hand, is recessed from the end of thecylindrical wall 91 the portion 910 of the wall projecting forwardly ofthe outer annular portion of the elastomeric body having a plurality ofopenings 114 for permitting the escape of the hostile fluid environmentfrom the housings. It will also be seen that this'portion 91a of thecylindrical wall has an enlarged inner diameter so as to receive the endof the wall 83 when the housings are engaged to provide axial alignmentas well as inhibiting extrusion of the elastomeric body.

In the second exemplary embodiment, the electrically conducting contactelements, indicated generally at 115 may also comprise a plurality ofannular, radially-spaced concentric rings which are electricallyinsulated from one another. Each of the rings is carried by theelastomeric bodies so that one face thereof is exposed. In contrast tothe shape of the exposed face of the annular contact elements of thefirst exemplary embodiment, each contact element 115 has a generallyfrustoconical or inclined face which is flush with the conical exposedsurface of the associated elastomeric bodies 110, 111. In all otherrespects, the contact elements of the second exemplary embodiment areconnected to the wires 72, 73 and are pressure engaged when theconnection is made as in the first exemplary embodiment.

An important novel feature of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is the non-orientation characteristic of the electricalconnector. In other words, in many prior art electrical connectorswherein multiple contacts are made, they require that one of the twomating or engaging housing members be rotationally aligned so that theproper jack will enter the proper socket. In contrast to thisrequirement for orientation in the prior art devices, the connector ofthe present invention, through the utilization of the annular contactelements, is not dependent upon any predetermined orientation of thehousing members.

In the examples of the invention described above it is important to notethat the opposed faces of the elastomeric bodies are brought together inpositive interfacial pressure engagement to purge the hostile fluidenvironment from between the faces, that such pressure engagementeffectively isolates the conductor faces making electrical contact andpossible electrical paths between adjacent conductor faces caused by thefluid environment (such as salt water) are effectively destroyed andeliminated. Interfacial pressure contact between conductor faces iseffective to break or penetrate any oxide layer formed on the conductorfaces.

Other modifications and variations of the present invention are possiblein light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood thatwithin the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practicedotherwise than the two exemplary embodiments shown and described.

I claim:

1. A self-purging, multi-contact electrical connector for use .in ahostile fluid environment comprising:

' a pair of connector housings, each such housing being connected to anelectrical wire means and having walls defining a chamber with an openend;

means cooperable with said walls for releasably interconnecting saidhousings;

an elastomeric body carried in each of said housing chambers inengagement with said walls, said elastomeric bodies having exposed,aligned corresponding pressure engagement surfaces at least one of whichprojects beyond theplane of its respective chamber open end and disposedupon contact with the other pressure engagement surface to expel fluidprogressively outwardly;

each of said elastomeric bodies carrying at least one electricallyconducting contact member exposed at said pressure engagement surfaceand electrically connected to said wire means;

means permitting escape of fluid environment during progressiveengagement of said elastomeric bodies so as to purge the hostile fluidenvironment from said connector,

said contact members being urged into pressure contact by saidelastomeric bodies to provide an electrically conductive connection; and

space means provided between said walls and said pressure engagementsurfaces adjacent said open ends for perrnitting flow of saidelastomeric body under pressure contact. 2. The self-purging electricalconnector of claim 1 wherein said at least one electrically conductingcontact member carried by one of said elastomeric bodies comprises aplurality of annular axially oflset, radially-spaced concentric members,each of said concentric members being electrically connected to at leastone conductor from said associated electrical wire means.

3..The self-purging electrical connector of claim 1 wherein one of saidconnector housings is integral with a sub-sea oil production apparatusand said means for releasably interconnecting said housings comprises,external threaded means carried by said other housing, a generallycylindrical collar having internal threaded means engaging said otherhousing external threaded means and having an intermediate reduceddiameter portion, a wall laterally spaced from said apparatus includinga U-shaped opening in alignment with said one apparatus housing forreceiving said reduced diameter collar portion, whereby rotation of saidaxially constrained collar effects axi ally movement of said otherelectrical connector housing so as to produce pressure engagement ofsaid elastomeric bodies.

4. The self-purging electrical connector of claim 1 wherein each of saidelastomeric body convex surfaces extend axially beyond said opening atthe center thereof and axially inwardly of said opening adjacent thehousing wall, said elastomeric body filling said chambers when saidconnector is in a closed position so as to expel the hostile fluidenvironment before contact of said housing wall ends, whereby entrapmentof fluid within said housings is avoided. a 5. The self-purgingelectrical connector of claim 4 wherein each of said elastomeric bodiescomprises a volume exceeding the volume of said housingcharnber, so thatwhen said housing wall ends are in proximate contact said elastomericbodies are undercompressive load.

6. In a self-purging, multi-contact electrical connector for connectionand use in an atmosphere deleteriously affecting the effectiveness ofelectrical contact in the connector including a pair of connectorhousings each having a chamber of selected volume, a multi-conductorelectrical wire connected to each of said housings, and means formechanically coupling said housings, the improvement comprising:

an electrically-insulating, deformable body carried in and substantiallyfilling each of said chambers, each of said bodies having an exteriorconvex face including a plurality of annular coaxial openings inregistry when said connector housings are coupled; an electrical contactmember carried in each of said openings, each of said contact membersbeing electrically connected to one of said wire conductors, and each ofsaid contact members having a contact face axially offset from theadjacent contact face whereby mechanically coupling of said housingseffects radially progressive pressure contact of said body exteriorfaces so as to purge the atmosphere from between said faces and out ofsaid connector whereby said bodies are held under pressure confinement;the volume of said deformable bodies under pressure en gagementexceeding the volume of said chambers; and

space means in said housing accommodating the excess volume'of thedeformable bodies while maintaining the deformable bodies undercompression.

7. A self-purging, multicontact electrical connector for use in ahostile fluid environment comprising:

a pair of connector housings, each such housing connected to anelectrical wire means and defining a chamber; means forreleasablyinterconnecting :said housings;

an elastomeric body sealingly carried in each of said housing chambers,said elastomeric bodies having exposed, aligned corresponding pressureengagement surfaces arranged to expel fluid progressively outwardly;

each of said elastomeric bodies carrying at least one electricallyconducting contact member exposed at said pressure engagement surfaceand electrically connected to said wire means;

at least one electrically conducting contact member carried by one ofsaid elastomeric bodies comprising a plurality of annular,radially-spaced concentric members, each of said concentric membersbeing electrically connected to at least one conductor from saidassociated electrical wire 10 means; said plurality of annularconcentric contact members in one of said elastomeric bodies havingsubstantially flat faces

1. A self-purging, multi-contact electrical connector for use in ahostile fluid environment comprising: a pair of connector housings, eachsuch housing being connected to an electrical wire means and havingwalls defining a chamber with an open end; means cooperable with saidwalls for releasably interconnecting said housings; an elastomeric bodycarried in each of said housing chambers in engagement with said walls,said elastomeric bodies having exposed, aligned corresponding pressureengagement surfaces at least one of which projects beyond the plane ofits respective chamber open end and disposed upon contact with the otherpressure engagement surface to expel fluid progressively outwardly; eachof said elastomeric bodies carrying at least one electrically conductingcontact member exposed at said pressure engagement surface andelectrically connected to said wire means; means permitting escape offluid environment during progressive engagement of said elastomericbodies so as to purge the hostile fluid environment from said connector,said contact members being urged into pressure contact by saidelastomeric bodies to provide an electrically conductive connection; andspace means provided between said walls and said pressure engagementsurfaces adjacent said open ends for permitting flow of said elastomericbody under pressure contact.
 2. The self-purging electrical connector ofclaim 1 wherein said at least one electrically conducting contact membercarried by one of said elastomeric bodies comprises a plurality ofannular axially offset, radially-spaced concentric members, each of saidconcentric members being electrically connected to at least oneconductor from said associated electrical wire means.
 3. Theself-purging electrical connector of claim 1 wherein one of saidconnector housings is integral with a sub-sea oil production apparatusand said means for releasably interconnecting said housings comprises,external threaded means carried by said other housing, a generallycylindrical collar having internal threaded means engaging said otherhousing external threaded means and having an intermediate reduceddiameter portion, a wall laterally spaced from said apparatus includinga U-shaped opening in alignment with said one apparatus housing forreceiving said reduced diameter collar portion, whereby rotation of saidaxially constrained collar effects axial movement of said otherelectrical connector housing so as to produce pressure engagement ofsaid elastomeric bodies.
 4. The self-purging electrical connector ofclaim 1 wherein each of said elastomeric body convex surfaces extendaxially beyond said opening at the center thereof and axially inwardlyof said opening adjacent the housing wall, said elastomeric body fillingsaid chambers when said connector is in a closed position so as to expelthe hostile fluid environment before contact of said housing wall ends,whereby entrapment of fluid within said housings is avoided.
 5. Theself-purging electrical connector of claim 4 wherein each of saidelastomeric bodies comprises a volume exceeding the volume of saidhousing chamber, so that when said housing wall ends are in proximatecontact said elastomeric bodies are under compressive load.
 6. In aself-purging, multi-contact electrical connector for connection and usein an atmosphere deleteriously affecting the effectiveness of electricalcontact in the connector including a pair of connector housings eachhaving a chamber of selected volume, a multi-conductor electrical wirecoNnected to each of said housings, and means for mechanically couplingsaid housings, the improvement comprising: an electrically-insulating,deformable body carried in and substantially filling each of saidchambers, each of said bodies having an exterior convex face including aplurality of annular coaxial openings in registry when said connectorhousings are coupled; an electrical contact member carried in each ofsaid openings, each of said contact members being electrically connectedto one of said wire conductors, and each of said contact members havinga contact face axially offset from the adjacent contact face wherebymechanically coupling of said housings effects radially progressivepressure contact of said body exterior faces so as to purge theatmosphere from between said faces and out of said connector wherebysaid bodies are held under pressure confinement; the volume of saiddeformable bodies under pressure engagement exceeding the volume of saidchambers; and space means in said housing accommodating the excessvolume of the deformable bodies while maintaining the deformable bodiesunder compression.
 7. A self-purging, multi-contact electrical connectorfor use in a hostile fluid environment comprising: a pair of connectorhousings, each such housing connected to an electrical wire means anddefining a chamber; means for releasably interconnecting said housings;an elastomeric body sealingly carried in each of said housing chambers,said elastomeric bodies having exposed, aligned corresponding pressureengagement surfaces arranged to expel fluid progressively outwardly;each of said elastomeric bodies carrying at least one electricallyconducting contact member exposed at said pressure engagement surfaceand electrically connected to said wire means; at least one electricallyconducting contact member carried by one of said elastomeric bodiescomprising a plurality of annular, radially-spaced concentric members,each of said concentric members being electrically connected to at leastone conductor from said associated electrical wire means; said pluralityof annular concentric contact members in one of said elastomeric bodieshaving substantially flat faces and the annular concentric contactmembers in the other of said elastomeric bodies having annularly convexfaces so that complimentary contact members when engaged provide alignedpressure contact; means permitting escape of fluid environment duringprogressive engagement of said elastomeric bodies so as to purge thehostile fluid environment from said connector, said contact membersbeing urged into pressure contact by said elastomeric bodies to providean electrically conductive connection.